Burping and Belching

What Not to Eat When Time to Speak

Belching or burping, depending on your preference, is a process of the body expelling excess air or gas out of the stomach upwards and out through the mouth. It usually is accompanied by a sound unique to each individual but so similar that usually everyone hearing knows what it is. It will offend some and usually embarrass the offender.

It is perhaps one of the ultimate embarrassing scenarios for public speaking. If you are a public speaker, if you want to eliminate or reduce the risk of burping in front of your audience, then this is for you.

The embarrassing sound can result from swallowed air or stomach distention caused by ingestion of certain foods.

It is also a nervous reaction some public speakers may experience.

Needless to say, it is a definite crash and burn situation if a burp should happen to you in the middle of a speech, unless it just happens to be on the same topic. For some cultures it is a good thing so it could depend on where your public speaking is being given.

The cause of belching or burping can be a symptom of a medical condition like hiatal hernia, weakened lower esophageal sphincter, or erosion of the esophagus.

How Can You Stop Belching?

Causes

Many times there are few or no visible signs or symptoms. Other symptoms might include difficulty swallowing and regurgitation. These can be precancerous conditions. If your problem is related to a medical condition, it is easily treated if caught early. You need to see a doctor.

For some simply losing weight will bring relief.

Overeating

Tight clothing

Chewing gum, especially if chewing with an open mouth

Gulping, sipping, and sucking

Keep a food diary to identify which foods or food combination's cause the excess gas.

Eat several smaller meals instead of three big meals on the day of your public speaking.

Chew on food slowly and thoroughly.

Foods to Avoid and Foods to Eat

Increase vegetables and fresh fruits. These contain natural enzymes that aid in digestion.

Cook vegetables quickly by steaming rather than boiling. If cooking otherwise, cook at temperatures under 300 degrees. This will help maintain their nutritional value and maintain the natural enzymes.

With numerous theories on water drinking, common sense needs to rule. Drinking during a meal only dilutes the acids in your stomach. Drinking water in between meals should help. Check it out and see how your body handles it. It also increases stomach distension so a secondary effect of drinking could be belching.

For some, a cup of warm to hot water does the trick of eliminating or reducing the risk of belching. Think of tea water with out the tea. Try it, it does work for some.

Avoid Beans like garbanzo, pinto, navy, and etc.

Burp reducing option for Bean Lovers. Place 1 cup of the gas producing beans in five cups of water. Bring it to a boil and keep it boiling for one minute. Drain and add 5 cups and bring to a boil again following the directions. This helps reduce the gas causing sulfur compounds in the beans.

Avoid cabbage, cucumbers, and bell peppers if they are among the offending foods.

No choice in your food intake, take an enzyme supplement like Beano to help reduce the risk of unwanted burping.

Avoid coffee, tea, and spicy foods with one exceptions. These can increase stomach acidity.

Peppermint tea has been found to kill the bacteria that cause bloating. Two cups after a meal may help. It may not work for everyone. Give it a test run and see if it will work for you. Peppermint is also a muscle relaxant.

Avoid drinks with built in extra gas (the fizzy kind)
Avoid sipping hot drinks. They are custom made to increase the risk of burping.

Stop smoking.

Avoid mints and chocolates at least 1 to 4 hours before giving a public speech where you have eaten up to 4 hours before. They relax the lower esophageal sphincter muscle, increasing the risk of the unwanted sounds.

Avoid onions and tomatoes up to 4 hours prior to giving a speech. Outside the obvious onion related personal public speaking challenge, they too can relax the lower esophageal sphincter increasing your risk.

And probably the safest if your metabolism can handle it, don’t eat before giving a public speech.

Hope these suggestions and recommendations help you in your quest toward public Speechmastery.

Bad Breath can also be a real embarrassment. Learn six tips on managing and eliminating bad breath for public speakers.